Abrams and Spielberg Collaborating

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What does J.J.'s new project mean for Star Trek 2?

By Jim Vejvoda

J.J. Abrams apparently loves Steven Spielberg so much that he's going to make a movie that's an homage to the sorts of films the Bearded One made in his 1970s-'80s heyday -- and Spielberg is going to help him make it.

Vulture reports that Abrams' next directing effort "will deal with everyday people whose personal relationships are tested when they are thrown up against extraordinarily fantastic -- and possibly other-worldly -- events." An insider informed the site that the Paramount project "is really an interpretation of some of Spielberg's earlier films, but done in a personal way."

Spielberg may serve as either executive producer or a mentor on the project. The pic's title and plot details are top secret (shades of Cloverfield), but Vulture's source calls the film "the anti-Avatar" in that Abrams wants to do a genre film in a "fiscally responsible" way. (I'm sure James Cameron can think of over 2 billion reasons why his approach worked.)

So what does all this mean for Star Trek 2, which Abrams has never formally committed to directing (only to producing it)? As TrekMovie says: "For the Star Trek sequel to make its delivery date of June 29, 2012, production would have to start no later than the Summer of 2011. That still gives Abrams time to direct another film, especially if it is a lower budget film, and then return to directing Star Trek. However, if Abrams commits to another project that is going to bleed well into 2011, he will have no choice but to bring in a new director for the Star Trek sequel."